Speech: Group Member Roles
Harmonizer
Mediates differences between others and reconciles conflicts
Self-Centered Roles
Meets the needs of that individual while harming the tasks or maintenance dimension of the larger group.
Information Giver
Offers relevant facts and information, personal experiences, evidence and opinions
Gatekeeper
Opens channels of communication; brings in members who otherwise might not speak; sees that everyone has a fair chance to be heard
Supporter
Praises, agrees, indicates warmth and solidarity with others, or goes along with them
Energizer
Prods the group to greater activity or to a decision and warns the group to act while there is still time.
Initiator
Proposes new ideas, goals, procedures, methods, and solutions
Procedure Developer
Suggests how to tasks such as seating arrangements, handing out papers, and making copies
Tension Reliever
Tells jokes or brings out humor in a situation; reduces formality and status differences; relaxes others
Dominator
Tries to run the group by giving directions, interrupting and insisting oh his/her own way
Confessor
Uses the group as audience for personal mistakes and feelings irrelevant to the trash
Blocker
Constantly raises objections and insists that nothing can be done
Task Roles
Communication behaviors that help the group address the issue, solve any problems, and perform the task.
Group Maintenance Roles
Centered around team building establish and maintain positive cooperative relationships and group centered interaction
Special-Interest Pleader
Acts as the representative of one group to the detriment of the group process
Information Seeker
Asks for facts, opinions, or clarification from members when more information is needed
Class Clown
Avoids involvement in the task by making jokes and cynical comments
Recognition Seeker
Boasts, calls attention to self, seeks sympathy or pity
Clarifier
Elaborates on ideas by giving examples and by noting the relationships among them
Aggressor
Expresses disapproval, jokes at the expense of others, expresses ill will or envy
Orientor
Keeps the group focused on its goal and summarizes the direction of the discussion
Recorder
Keeps written record and serves as the groups memory
